Brad

Didn't mean to say Buck wasn't. I listen to him daily on XM's Baseball this Morning. If you're a baseball junkie, their baseball station is a must, principally for Buck. Ron Darling is going to be co-hosting with Mike Francesa tomorrow on WFAN (www.wfan.com) from 1 to 615 EST.

Just ordered the relatively new Parker and Gillespie Uptown Cds.

Somehow, I missed this thread, probably thinking it was the Town Hall release. Just ordered the two from CD Universe. Can't wait. It's been a long time since I've gotten any new Bird!!

I haven't listened to the sound of a FOX broadcast with Buck and McCarver in years. I don't care if the radio is 3 plays ahead I would rather have a root canal with Whitney Houston's Greatest Hits plying then listen to Tim "F-ing Captain Obvious" McCarver. "since the AL won the All Star game that means the Rays have the home field advantage and get to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, unless they already have the lead after the top of the ninth then they won't have to bat in the bottom of the ninth because they would have already would have won the game and that is why home field advantage is an advantage.."... Updated with some actual quotes from McCarver. Well, David Eckstein, like most of us, has 20 digits. Ten fingers. Ten toes. Pitching is such a vital part of the game, as far as winning is concerned Roy Oswalt is a drop and drive pitcher. What is a drop and drive pitcher? He is a guy who drops and drives. Very simple. If you leadoff and you play every day, you're guaranteed to bat with the bases empty at least 162 times I think he's past his prime. He used to be good once. The guy who I think is one of the best now is Ron Darling. I listen to him on the Mets broadcasts and his comments are never stupid and are usually perceptive and on the money. In the TBS broadcasts of the ALCS, he seemed overshadowed by Martinzez, however.

This was in today's New York Times: Red Sox' Unusual Question: What Now ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jason Varitek had to know the questions about his future were coming, but he still did not seem prepared for them. As soon as Varitek was asked if he had possibly played his final game with the Boston Red Sox on a tense Sunday night here, he ended the interview. “I’d rather not go into that,” said Varitek, who was weepy before he could even finish the sentence. After his response, Varitek covered his eyes with a towel, rose from a chair and walked away. He walked into an uncertain future after the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Red Sox, 3-1, in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series and rumbled into their first World Series. The Rays made the Red Sox look old because they basically make every team look old. Varitek can be a free agent, so there is no guarantee he will be back with Boston in 2009. What to do about Varitek is one of several questions that the Red Sox will ponder as they ease into an off-season that they did not expect to begin so soon. With Jon Lester starting the decisive game, the Red Sox were confident that they could win their third straight game and finish another comeback from a 3-1 deficit in an A.L.C.S. But they could not solve Matt Garza across seven innings and were introduced to David Price in a memorable eighth. The Rays were more resilient this time, preventing Boston from pursuing a second consecutive World Series title. “A lot of the young guys, we don’t know this feeling,” Lester said. “We know winning. I think that’s what we’ll be thinking about in the off-season.” If the Red Sox had lost the series in five games, which they were seven outs from doing, there would have been more angst about how their season ended. Although there is still immense angst anytime the Red Sox lose, they staged the second-greatest comeback in postseason history, rallying from seven runs down in Game 5, and kept their season alive until Game 7. As always, the Red Sox were tough to subdue. “We gave ourselves a chance to win,” closer Jonathan Papelbon said. “We just fell a little bit short.” What the Red Sox lacked against Garza was what they lacked for most of the postseason: offensive consistency. Garza and four relievers held the Red Sox to one run and three hits. Dustin Pedroia had a home run in the first inning to give the Red Sox hope, but it proved to be their final run of 2008. David Ortiz batted .186 in the postseason and acknowledged that the Red Sox missed Manny Ramírez. Mike Lowell, who formed a powerful 3-4-5 combination with Ortiz and Ramírez last year, hobbled through two postseason games before having hip surgery Monday. The Red Sox cannot reasonably expect Ortiz and Lowell to produce the same way that they did in the last few years, which could lead them to add another power hitter. Still, when General Manager Theo Epstein addressed reporters in Boston on Monday, he emphasized that the team would be selective in pursuing free agents. Mark Teixeira, a first baseman, is the most attractive hitter on the market. If the Colorado Rockies try to trade outfielder Matt Holliday, the Red Sox could use some of their prospects to make a deal. “I can’t give you one theme, ‘This is what we need to improve,’ ” Epstein said. “I think we’re pretty solid. But we need to get better, too.” The Red Sox and the Yankees have always kept an eye on what the other is doing, but both teams will have to pay just as much attention to the Rays now. Epstein was surely referring to the Rays when he said the competition reinforced the idea that the Red Sox must keep “getting younger and more dynamic.” In a season that was clouded by the Ramírez trade and by injuries to Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Ortiz, Lowell and Julio Lugo, the Red Sox received contributions from young players like pitcher Justin Masterson, shortstop Jed Lowrie and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, although Ellsbury and Lowrie fizzled in the postseason. The 24-year-old Clay Buchholz, who has already thrown a no-hitter, is a pitcher the Red Sox need to blossom in 2009. Garza said he fell asleep with his cellphone in his hand at 4 a.m. Monday, but he was not so woozy later in the day to think that the Rays had forever vanquished Boston. The Rays asserted themselves as the little brother who is now the toughest kid on the A.L. block. But Garza noted how the Red Sox have a strong rotation with Lester, Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka and that should make them formidable again. “They’re still going to be good,” Garza said. “They’re still going to be back next year. You can’t forget about the Yankees. The Yankees will be in the mix, too.” Outside the Red Sox clubhouse Sunday night, some forlorn family members wore blue and red shirts with the message, “Respect Beantown” on the front. The Rays respected the Red Sox, but they did not fear a team that was chasing a dynasty. There is a big difference

There's only so many teams that you can spot a team a 3-1 edge and come back and win. Who knows but when you've won a title the year before one three years before that, maybe it takes the edge off a little bit. Still, they made it interesting.

I agree that part of game 5 was exciting (hey, the game will go down in history) but for the most part the rest of the series was ok. But I do agree that after winning two titles in three years, it's not the end of the world and as Al noted they took them to the 7th game so they went down fighting and let's face it Garza was awesome tonight. Lester was good but Garza was just a little bit better. I'm sure these two teams will give us great baseball for many years to come.

Bummer. Except for three incredible innings in game 5, this was an otherwise forgettable series, which is pretty much what you can say for the whole postseason. Hasn't been exciting baseball.

It ain't lookin' good, 3-1

Very tidy game. What I liked about the Red Sox is that every time the Rays scored, the Red Sox responded. It's plausible what Maddon was saying: that after game 5, they put it out of their mind. However, when they all went their separate ways last night, I'm sure some had to be thinking: Man, we were this close. Maddon says everything is a learning experience but it's a tough way to learn. I've got a feeling that tonight will be a blowout one way or the other. Hopefully, it's the Red Sox doing the blowing. I wouldn't bet against them at this point. Although past history is never a predictor of the future, when you're up against it like the Rays are, it has to get them thinking a little bit.

You would have thought fans would have hung in until the bitter end. Glad I saw it. However, I do fess up to missing the 88 Kirk Gibson HR against the As. I woke up right after I hit it.

I sort of agree but what's the point of saving Lester if you can't get to game 7. Moreover, I believe he would be on normal rest (although the post season tends to mess that up). You would need Beckett but I'd like to make sure they get to a game 7 first. Good point about all hands on deck. Regardless of when Beckett goes, who is the first guy out of the pen if he lasts only a couple of innings?

I'm also a big Bud fan, as evidenced by the avatar. The Xanadu is quite good although pre 64. Some of the Black Lions are very interesting also, if you can get your hands on those.

One of my favorite players when I was a kid. Had a lot of talent. Thanks for the memories.

That was indeed one of the great games I've ever seen and I've been watching baseball for almost 50 years. Of course, I wasn't around in 1929 for the only comeback that was better: the Cubs-As game. I had fallen asleep and woke up in the 6th inning when it was 5-0 and figured it was definitely over when it was 7-0. When it was 7-4, I said "too little, too late" but thought, well, let's score two at least in the 8th and tie it in the ninth. When it was 7-6, I thought "damn, those two runs they gave up in the 7th is really going to cost them." Otherwise, they would have been up 6-5. Incredible ending obviously. Incredible at bats by Coco Crisp and Youkilis. What can you say? Just a fantastic ending. I'm not sure it would go down as a great game, particularly if you're a Rays fan, but a great ending. I guess that does, in fact, make it a great game. One for the ages. Why not start Lester in the sixth game. He'll be going on normal rest. He should be better than Monday and he's more reliable than Beckett. Let's face it unless you can win game 6, saving him for game 7 doesn't mean much. If they do get to game 7, then start Beckett but on a very short leash, with "all hands on deck" as they say in the trade.

All, Thank you all very much! Haven't been for awhile. The Mets, now that's a sore subject. They deservedly finished second.

I hope the Cubs clinch this weekend, not because I like them but because they're coming to play the Mets next week and, with that bullpen, we need all the help we can get. Omar should be fired for the bullpen he put together. At the end of the year, just clean it out and start from scratch. Whatever you get can't be any worse then the pile of shit you have already

Of all the Mosaics I have, this is probably my favorite and, objectively, one of their best issues. I'm actually surprised it hadn't gone OOP before.

I've listed on ebay my copy of the Bud Shank Mosaic. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Yeah, I'd read here awhile back that it had some great stuff but also some ordinary stuff. I'd like to get it but I'm sure I can live without it.

I wonder if these are some of their slower moving sets although I would think the Jazztet, Stanley and Lou would be popular. The Farlow is a great set in its own right.

Well, there's one less left now, be it 57 or 19 Listened to disc one. Not a big fan of strings but it was passable. Rest is very good. Must have timed out because my copy is in the 2000's.

I'm selling some Art Pepper Cds on Ebay: Modern Art - Complete Alladin Recordings, Volume 2 Complete Village Vanguard Sessions Art Pepper With Sonny Clark at the Lighthouse - Two Cd set reissued by Venus of Japan Please click here. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I don't know if anybody needs this or is interested in this but Amazon Germany sent me an email about it this weekend, Elegant Soul.

I wonder if Carter could still make those claims today: clean tongue (how does one get a tongue dirty?), constipation, indigestion, etc.